Compare towns
Bellingham vs Needham vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering BellinghamMendon
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bellingham | Needham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Bellingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bellingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,763±$14kLowest 7% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358 14% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
| Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,030 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Bellingham |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.